Women, Infants and Children

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WIC

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is for pregnant women, breastfeeding women up to 12 months postpartum, non-breastfeeding women up to 6 months postpartum, and infants and children up to 5 years of age who have a medical/nutritional risk and meet financial eligibility criteria. Funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. WIC is administered by the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Fulton County Board of Health.

The mission of WIC is to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children up to age 5 who are nutritionally and medically at risk. WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets as well as information on healthy eating and referrals to health care.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Nutrition counseling
Breastfeeding support
Food vouchers are redeemable at participating grocery stores for milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, juices, and other nutritious foods.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: 202-690-7442; or
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Declaración de no discriminación en Español

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wic eligibility & Program information

WIC Eligibility Requirements

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for income-eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women. Children under age 5, who are at nutritional risk and are at or below 185 percent of the poverty level whose sole provider's (parent or guardian) income is income-eligible, also qualify for WIC.

Infants and children age 1-to-5 years (including foster children)
Pregnant women
Breastfeeding mothers (during the child’s first year)
Post-partum women (until the child is 6 months of age)

Income Eligible Guidelines

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, WIC is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Eligibility Assessment

You can take the WIC Eligibility Assessment to see if you qualify or contact your local WIC office to make an appointment and find out which documents you will need to bring with you. At your appointment, WIC staff will check to see if you and your family qualify.

The Online Intake Form can assist you in determining your eligibility for the WIC Nutrition Program. It is a preliminary assessment – only Fulton County WIC staff can determine if you qualify for WIC services in Fulton County.

Residency

Applicants must live in the state and local jurisdiction in which they apply for the WIC Nutrition Program. This means our applicants must be residents of Georgia and live in Fulton County.

Income Requirement

To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have income at or below the standard set by the Georgia WIC program which must be between 100% but not more than 185% of the Federal poverty income guidelines. Certain applicants can be determined income-eligible for WIC based on their participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, formerly known as AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children).

Nutrition Risk Requirement

Applicants must be seen by a health professional such as a physician, nurse, or nutritionist who must determine whether the individual is at nutrition risk. "Nutrition risk" means an individual has a medical-based condition such as anemia or a poor pregnancy outcome or dietary-based conditions such as poor eating habits. This often can be done in the WIC clinic at no cost to the applicant. However, this information can be obtained from another health professional such as the applicant's physician.

Length of Participation

WIC is a short-term program. Therefore, a participant will "graduate" at the end of one or more certification periods. An eligible individual usually receives WIC benefits from 6 months to a year, at which time she/he must reapply.

Moving

WIC participants who move can continue to receive WIC benefits until their certification period expires as long as there is proof the individual received WIC benefits in a previous locality or state. WIC staff at that location will provide you with a special card to present to the WIC office in your new location. When you arrive for your first appointment, be sure to bring that card with you.

What Can I Purchase with WIC Vouchers?

A variety of nutritious foods can be purchased with WIC vouchers. Additionally, fresh, frozen, canned, and organic Georgia WIC vegetable and fruit options made available to WIC participants.

WIC Approved Foods List

Lista de alimentos aprobados de WIC

How Can I Apply for WIC?

Call the Fulton County Board of Health WIC Hotline at 404-612-3942 to schedule an appointment today. To help make your process faster in the clinic, please register your family on Georgia Gateway.

How can new and current participants apply during Covid-19?

During this unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, the Fulton County Board of Health is now providing WIC services via telephone consultations for new and current WIC participants.

WIC staff will now certify new participants, offer nutrition education and confirm food vouchers for all participants via telephone appointments. Food vouchers will then be mailed to participants.

Need to enroll in WIC services? Contact the WIC Call Center at 404-612-3942, Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m.

Do you need a follow-up appointment to maintain your WIC services? For current WIC participants, the WIC staff will call you to conduct your nutrition education and manage the mailing of your vouchers.

Did your phone number change? It is important that WIC participants call the WIC Call Center at 404-612-3942 to update their contact information.

Have you taken the required nutrition education for new and current WIC participants? Both new and current WIC participants can complete their required nutrition education online. Once enrolled, new WIC participants can sign-up for the online class as directed by WIC staff. Current WIC participants should refer to their WIC program card and sign-up for your nutrition education by the deadline indicated on your card.

For more information about your WIC enrollment or program benefits, contact the WIC Call Center at 404-612-3942, Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m.